Corpse Whisperer (10 page)

He chuckled. His gaze traveled out the window. Grace had him off-kilter. “I’m not sure what to be believe with her. I don’t see any reason why someone would want you dead.”

“Dead? She didn’t say that.”

Zach could have smacked his own forehead. He figured Grace had spilled all her beans. Well as much as Grace lets out. “I assumed.”

As if in the depths of déjà vu, Grace knew what her calls were for that next day. She even got to do a better job the second time and save them all.

“You’re on a roll today,” her partner of the day said as they left the hospital.

“Just a good day all around.” A shrug moved her shoulders.

Grace strolled towards the parking lot when she noticed a tall man leaning on her car. She groaned. Despite her positive day, she was exhausted. She didn’t want to tangle with Zach.

Her partner waved at her and went in another direction. She braced for the storm that was brewing on Zach’s face. Didn’t he get that she had no choice. Her gift had been given to her for a reason. She was compelled to help murder victims.

When her powers were gone she’d gladly not help people anymore. Except in her job as a paramedic.

“You’re scratching my paint,” she said.
Zach pushed away from her car, but didn’t uncross his arms. Nor did he seem phased by her accusations. “You’re not going to see him.”

“Why not? He’s the prime suspect.”
“Yours? Grace there hasn’t been a murder. There probably won’t be. Dolores will be safe at her house all day tomorrow.”

Grace narrowed her eyes. “You know something I don’t?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know she’ll be safe? Better yet. I’ll tell you how she’ll be safe. I’m spending the day with her. She needs someone to be there anyway. She’s still a little weak.”

Zach’s eyes rolled so fast she thought they’d pop out of his head and zoom across the parking lot. “And you’re going to defend her against a murderer?”

Since she read the newspaper cover to cover she’d figure out something that would happen today. “How about the baseball game. The Phillies are playing the Mets. The Phillies are going to win. The score will be 10 to 6.”

After much cajoling and some lying, Grace managed to get past Zach to her car. Despite what she said to him, she headed for his boss’s office.

Kent Winger sat behind a pin neat desk talking on the phone. He’d scrubbed the dirt from underneath his fingernails since the last time she’d seen him.

She’d charmed her way into his office and now he made her wait. His uniform had creases in it even after a full day of work.

His office smelled like an air freshener and Grace wondered just how in touch with his feminine side he was.

The call finished, the man replaced the receiver with such deliberation the phone could have been made with glass. He then turned his chocolate brown eyes at her, his moustache twitching once. “You again?”

“Me, again. I need to speak with you about Dolores Holten.”

His spine stiffened, but his face didn’t change from his impassive expression.eee wa “What about her?”

He didn’t use any pejorative, but the venom was clear from his tone. Boy, Dolores had made lots of friends throughout law enforcement. Too bad this one was Zach’s old boss. Probably why he didn’t want her here.

He bolted to his feet. “Miss Harmony we’ve been through this. I don’t appreciate strangers coming in here making false accusations against me. Now leave or I’ll have someone escort you. And if I hear any of these accusations outside this office I’ll have you arrested for harassment.”

During his speech he strode around his desk and yanked her to her feet. With her toes barely touching the ground he dragged her to his door.

She whirled to find five plain clothes detectives staring at her in disbelief. Readjusting her clothes, she strode across the room with a crimson face and a locked jaw. She released her breath when she reached the parking lot outside the Centre County Administration Building.

Zach’s voice startled her. “I told you to stay away from him.”

“But Dolores said . . .”

Grace scooted around him towards her car knowing full well he intended to grab her. She didn’t think she’d survive his touch again. Despite how attractive he’d become she couldn’t risk it. Despite how much his touch soothed and excited her.

His face was a study in anger, his jaw locked. A muscle twitched on the side of his face. “You can’t believe everything Lors says.”

She stayed just out of his reach, but he caught up with her.

The colors danced in front of her eyes, but a warm feeling engulfed her as if she shouldn’t be afraid of those colors. Like a kaleidoscope things circled around and then came back. She blinked, but couldn’t rid herself of the vision that was coming.

Chapter Ten

Before Grace hit the ground, Zach had her scooped in his arms. Ignoring the sense of belonging he felt with her there, he strode to a bench outside the building, then put her down. “Grace?”

Why the hell did she almost faint anytime he touched her? His heart sped up double time. Her scent wafted into his nostrils and charged up his libido. He could see her helpless and spent underneath him and the idea held appeal to him.

He shook his head. What was wrong with him? More importantly, what was wrong with Grace?

She sat up without his help and her color returned to her cheeks. He didn’t think she went completely unconscious, though she’d been limp in his arms. Relief washed over him.

For such a busy parking lot, no one bothered to stop.

The woman scurried into the building and was back with a drink before Grace fully recovered. Grace’s eyes were wide open when he handed her the drink.

They snapped even further open when she looked up at him. As if she had a secret.

Not the same one she’d been hiding from him all along, but this one was embarrassing by the look of the extra color on her cheeks.

“I’m okay,” she stammered out.

With slow sips, she finished the water in the mug. But didn’t hand it back. Was he that repulsive that she couldn’t risk brushing his hand?

She flinched when he reached for it, but he managed to extricate it from her without her passing out.

After thanking the secretary, he sent her on her way. He sat next to Grace on the bench. “What happened?”

“I just passed out.”

“You seem to do that a lot. Have you seen a doctor?”

She giggled. Was she delirious? “Why’s that funny?” he said.

Rubbing a hand down her face she said, “No doctor can help me. Look, I need to get to Dolores. I promised her dinner.”

She rose and Zach held out his arms in case she toppled.

Her glare knifed through him. “I’m fine as long as you don’t touch me.”

“Why can’t I touch you?”

He feinted a hand in her direction. She moved out of his reach, her hands up in a defensive posture. “Just don’t.”

“We aren’t done.”

She visibly sighed. “Yes, somehow I know that.”

He blinked. “What?”

“Never mind.”

She walked away, but over her shoulder she said, “Watch that game tonight.”

***

“What did he say?” Dolores asked, when Grace brought her dinner of soup and a sandwich.

Despite her face being flush with color, Dolores’ eyes still looked tired as she devoured the food.

“He threw me out of his office.”

“Was Zach there?”

“In the parking lot.”

She bit her lip as her cheeks went warm. The vision had been so clear to her as if she was suddenly clairvoyant. But she’d never been before.

But, then, her attraction to Zach was out of the ordinary, too.

Dolores cocked her head. “You have feelings for Zach?”

Grace looked out the bedroom window. “Uh, no.”

The bedridden woman laughed. “Please. It’s so obvious. Look, he wants nothing to do with me. Go for it.”

How could someone toss another human being away so easily? As if she were lending out a hat or a book. “It’s not that simple. I have a job to do because you’re in danger. I can’t be distracted by . . .” She waved her hands. “Men.”

“Oh, honey. Life is too short not to be distracted by men. I think he feels something for you. The last time the three of us were together, before this miscarriage, he didn’t even see me.”

Grace’s heart leapt in her chest, but her rational side tamped down the enthusiasm. She still hadn’t prevented Dolores’s death.

And until she did, her feeling for Zach, or lust for him, had to wait.

No matter what her wacky visions were telling her.

***

Zach came to her in a dream that night. He said all the right things. He touched all the right places, but as soon as she was ready to climax she awoke.

“I’ll be disappointed if he’s really that way in bed.” She blew hair out of her face. “Not that I plan on finding out.”

This time she put on clothes before she looked outside.

As she expected, that man stood there. Without turning on any lights she dialed 9-1-1, then Zach. With as much stealth as she could muster she opened her front door, then slipped down the steps to the driveway.

He heart pounded double time, hurting her chest.

The man looked in her direction, then ran into the neighbor’s bushes. The patrol car pulled into the driveway at that moment. The cop had seen the man and took off on foot after him.

Zach raced down the driveway almost running into Grace when a cloud obscured the moon. He grabbed her so she didn’t topple. The kaleidoscope of colors began, while his warmth soothed her. She might pass out. She struggled to get away from his touch.

“You okay?” he asked.

As soon as he let go relief warred with disappointment. She had never wanted anyone to touch her, but been so confused by that same touch. “Yeah, the cop went that way.”

Through the bushes the cop dragged a disgruntled man that Grace recognized.

“Mark?”

“You know this guy?” Zach asked. He stepped closer to her as if marking her as his. Me, Tarzan. This my Jane. It had a distinct appeal to belong to someone, but Grace knew it was only an instinct on Zach’s part. She didn’t think there were any personal feelings behind it. Too bad, in some ways, she thought.

She looked from Mark to Zach. “He’s a friend.”

“Huh? That lurks outside of your apartment?”

Grace shrugged. She had no idea why Mark was there. “What are you doing here?”

“Tell them who I am, Gracie,” Mark said.

“If you tell me why you aren’t in California and why you’re on my driveway.”

“Uh, Long story.”

“I’ll put on some coffee. You can tell us all,” she said.

***

Zach eyed the rumpled man with coiffed blond hair. No one should spend that much time on their looks. Especially not a guy. Mark sat on Grace’s couch as if he owned it.

Grace gave out coffee all around then sat looking at Mark expectantly.

Zach had convinced the patrolman he could leave. He’d take all responsibility for the prowler.

Grace owed him for this one. She avoided filing police reports as if she were allergic.

Zach stared into his coffee hoping that Mark and Grace weren’t that close. Mark looked at her the way a lover would look at another. His own frown at the idea they were a couple hurt his face.